Ahmedabad: The Gujarat Congress on Wednesday alleged delays in the distribution of free textbooks to students across the state.

Addressing a press conference at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan, Gujarat Pradesh Congress Committee Media Coordinator and spokesperson Hemang Rawal said the state government is launching the State Curriculum Framework and highlighting the implementation of the new education policy and curriculum reforms. “But the biggest question is that when lakhs of students in the state do not even have textbooks available for studying, what is the real meaning of such a framework?” he questioned.

Rawal said the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) was announced in 2023, giving the state government sufficient time to prepare the new curriculum, textbooks and related systems. Despite this, he claimed that even more than 10 days after schools reopened on June 6, many students, particularly those in Classes 9 and 11, have not received their free textbooks.

Gujarat Congress Questions Delay in Textbook Supply to Govt Schoolshttps://t.co/WWhyXStKNc
(In video, Education Minister Dr. Pradyuman Vaja replies to media queries on the same) pic.twitter.com/U8scFRRuao

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Citing textbook distribution data available up to June 16, 2026, Rawal alleged that books had been dispatched on only 15 of the state’s 208 distribution routes, while 193 routes were yet to receive supplies. He further claimed that books were unavailable at more than 400 distribution centres across Gujarat.

According to Rawal, the shortage is disrupting studies and making it difficult for teachers to complete the syllabus on time.

The Congress leader also claimed that, according to sources in the Gujarat State School Textbook Board, printing of some free textbooks has not yet been completed.

The Congress demanded that the Gujarat government, Education Department and Gujarat State School Textbook Board clarify the reasons for the delay, explain why distribution has been completed on only 15 routes, and disclose whether printing of all free textbooks has been completed.

“We demand that the Gujarat government intervene immediately and complete the distribution of all the remaining textbooks on a war footing, conduct a transparent investigation into the entire matter, and hold those responsible accountable for this injustice done to the future of the students,” Rawal said. DeshGujarat